Imatges de pàgina
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-War its thousands slays;

Peace its ten thousands. In th' embattled plain,
Though death exults and claps his raven wings,
Yet reigns he not ev'n there so absolute,
So merciless, as in yon frantic scenes
Of midnight revel, and tumultuous mirth;
Where in th' intoxicating draught concealed,
Or couched beneath the glance of lawless love;
He snares the simple youth, who nought suspecting,
Means to be blest-but finds himself undone.

Down the smooth stream of life the strippling darts,
Gay as the morn; bright glows the vernal sky;
Hope swells his sails, and passion steers his course;
Safe glides his little bark along the shore,
Where virtue takes her stand; but if too far
He launches forth beyond discretion's mark,
Sudden the tempest scowls, the surges roar,
Blot his fair day, and plunge him in the deep.
O sad, but sure mischance!

SECTION 5. OF FORTITUDE.

Fortitude is that noble and steady purpose of the mind, which enables us to resist temptation, and encounter danger with spirit and resolution. This virtue is equally distant from rashness and cowardice; and he, who is possessed of it, is seldom shaken and never overthrown by the storms which surround him A man of an upright spirit disdains the malice of fortune. He doth not suffer his happiness to depend on her smiles; and, therefore, with her frowns he shall not be dismayed. As a rock on the sea shore, he standeth firm, and the dashing of the waves disturbeth him not. He raiseth his head like a tower on a hill, and the arrows of misfortune drop at his feet. In the instant of danger, the courage of his heart sustains him, and the steadiness of his mind beareth him out.

SECTION 6.of prudence.

Prudence teacheth us to regulate our lives and actions

agreeably to the dictates of reason, and to determine rightly on the mode of conduct which we ought to pursue in respect to our present as well as our future happiness. This is a virtue, which ought to be the peculiar characteristic of every mason; but, on this subject it cannot be necessary to enlarge.

Without suspicion of being betrayed in our words, or ensnared in the openness of our dealings, our mirth in the lodge is undisguised. It is governed by PRUdence, tempered with LOVE, and clothed in CHARITY. Thus it standeth void of offence. No malicious mind warps innocent expressions to wicked constructions,or interprets unmeaning jests into sarcasms or satires; but as every sentiment flows full of benovolence, so every ear in the lodge is attuned to the strain, in harmonious concord, and tastes the pleasures of festivity so pure, that they bear our reflections in the morning without remorse.

Peace, regularity, and decorum, are in the lodge, indispensable duties, nor are they the offspring of control or of authority, but a voluntary service, which every man brings to the lodge.

There are seasons, indeed, in which authority may be exercised with propriety. Man is frail, and the most prudent may sometimes deviate from the rules of strict propriety. It was a maxim of the ancient philosophers, that to err was human, to forgive divine." In the lodge, therefore, there should be a constant governor, who should restrain those improprieties, which may creep in amongst us; but all this must be done with PRU

DENCE.

SECTION 7.-
.-OF JUSTICE.

Justice consists in an exact and scrupulous regard to the rights of others, with a deliberate purpose to preserve them, upon all occasions, sacred and inviolable; and from this fair and equitable temper, performing eve

ry necessary act of justice, which relates to their persons and properties, being just to their merits, and just to their very infirmities, by making all the allowance in their favour, which their circumstances require, and a goodnatured and equitable construction of particular cases will admit of, being true to our friendships, to our promises and contracts, just in our traffic, just in our demands, and just, by observing a due moderation, even in our re

sentments.

We should do justice, deal fairly, bear good will, practice beneficence, succour the afflicted, and relieve the necessitous, esteem the worthy, reverence God and our parents, and obey the constituted authorities.

Justice is the foundation of an everlasting fame, and there can be nothing commendable without it.

Be ever steady to your word, yet be not ashamed to confess your errors, nor slow to idemnify those, who may have suffered by your mistake.

Philip, king of Macedon, in a fit of intoxication, happened to determine a cause unjustly, to the prejudice of a poor widow. She had no sooner heard his decree, than she cried out, "I appeal to Philip when sober." The king struck with the singularity of what she had said, recovered his senses, gave a new hearing to the cause, and finding that he had been mistaken, ordered her to be paid out of his own purse, double the sum which she was to have lost. This is an example worthy of imitation.

Justice is a glorious and communicative virtue, ordained for the common good of mankind, without any regard to itself. This keeps men from tormenting one another, and it is this, which preserves tranquillity in the world. It is the bond of human society, a kind of tacit agreement and expression of nature, without which there. is not any thing, which we do, that can deserve commen

dation. The just man wrongs nobody, but contents himself with his own, does good to all, and speaks well of all, gives every man his due, and is not any man's hindrance. He is just for justice sake, and asks no other reward, than that which he receives in the comfort of being just. -If Justice now requires,

With vice it should go ill, with virtue well,
Yet so it fares with neither in this life ;
It then remains, that in some other life,
Will this distinction certainly be made,
And then the scene, which with regard to man
Now rude appears, nor worthy of a GoD
All-wise and gracious, shall itself disclose ;
And every thing be seen, the cloud removed,
In its true colour and its proper place.

If this you doubt, say by what rule you prove
That there's a GOD at all, who governs things
With perfect harmony and nicest skill!
What, does he every thing besides direct
With just propriety, and only fail

In this, the chiefest part? Not so; a time
Will come, (enquire not how,) this is enough,
'Tis plain; a time there will be after death,
When God as fit, the just from the unjust,
The guiltless from the guilty shall select,
And give to every man his due reward.

SECTION 8.-OF CHARITY.

CHARITY! O how lovely is the theme! It is the brightest gem, which can adorn the profession of a free-mason. It is the best test and the surest proof of our being possessed of that religion, which cometh from above. Charity is the chief characteristic of a virtuous and liberal mind. It combines most good qualities, which can adorn the heart, and excludes the vices and feelings, which are inseparable from an unkind disposition.

The relief of want and wretchedness, although in itself meritorious, forms only a small part of this excellent

altribute. Neither envy, pride, anger, or falsehood, can exist in the same breast with charity; but forbearance, humility, and truth, are its necessary constituents. Every character, which is admired for the practice of those virtues, makes individuals amiable, and teacheth* the value and excellence of this transcendent quality. The good Samaritan is the subject of universal praise, and the benevolence which he displayed towards the victim of cruelty, is enhanced by the unfeeling indifference of the Priest and Levite. Luke x. 29. But the forgiving temper, the generous affection, the rigid fidelity, and patient sufferings of Joseph, exhibit charity in the extensive and affecting views, which every good man is

anxious to attain.

Blessed and happy is he, who is successful in the amiable ambition of inheriting that quality, which, to use the beautiful language of PRIOR,

"Opens in each heart a little heaven."

He is like the meandering stream, tranquil in itself, and diffusing health and fertility whithersoever it floweth. Benevolence, attended by heaven-born charity, is an honour to all who are possessed of it. The charitable man envieth not his neighbour, nor does he listen with patience to a tale which has been repeated to his injury. Revenge or malice hath no place in his breast. He forgiveth the injuries of men, and endeavoure th to blot them from his recollection. Let us, therefore, remember that we are Christians and masons, and as such, let us ever be ready to listen to him who craveth our assistance, and extend readily a liberal hand to him who is in want. Thus shall an heartfelt satisfaction reward our labour, and the blessing of the Most High will await us. "Above all things have fervent charity amongst yourselves,

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